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Biomedical subjects

A B Hunyor

Publications and source records attributed to A B Hunyor.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Treatment of choroidal neovascularisation in age-related macular degeneration with interferon alfa-2a and alfa-2b.

Forty eight eyes of 42 patients with choroidal neovascular membranes and age-related macular degeneration who received three different dose regimens of systemic interferon alfa-2 were studied retrospectively. The response to treatment of 41 eyes of the 37 patients who received at least 4 weeks' treatment was analysed with respect to the change in size of the choroidal neovascular membrane and the visual acuity compared with pretreatment levels. The size of the membrane at the end of the course of treatment had decreased in seven (17%) eyes overall, not changed in 16 (39%), and increased in 18 (44%). At the end of treatment, the visual acuity had improved in seven (17%) eyes, not changed in 27 (66%), and deteriorated in seven (17%). With an average follow up of 10 months after treatment, the visual acuity had deteriorated compared with the pretreatment value in 21 out of 41 (51%) eyes. Vision improved in some fellow eyes with disciform scars. Side effects were common and often severe. The data suggest that one of the major effects of interferon alfa may be to decrease vascular permeability. While further research may identify a place for interferon alfa in the treatment of choroidal neovascularisation, we were unable to demonstrate that the treatment regimens of systemic interferon alfa we used caused a dramatic benefit to patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Aged

Iodine-125 irradiation of choroidal melanoma: clinical experience from the Prince of Wales and Sydney Eye Hospitals.

We examined the records of 53 patients treated for choroidal melanoma between 1985 and 1989. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and short-term results of iodine-125 episcleral plaque therapy. There were 28 males and 25 females, aged 20 to 77 years (median 61 years), treated for single tumours with a median diameter of 9 mm (range 5 to 15 mm) and with a median thickness of 4 mm (range 2 to 10 mm). The plaques containing iodine-125 seeds were chosen according to tumour size: 10 mm (16 patients); 15 mm (36 patients); 20 mm (one patient). All patients are alive at last follow-up (median 1.3 years, range 4 months to 3.3 years). Four patients underwent enucleation for melanoma progression. Thirty patients have developed some type of complication (more than one complication occurred in the same eye in 12 patients): retinitis (19), optic neuropathy (7); cataract (4), rubeosis iridis (2). Overall, visual acuity deteriorated in 32 patients, remained stable in 12 patients and improved in 9 patients. Iodine-125 plaque therapy appears to offer patients good prospects of tumour control and preservation of useful vision.

Adult

Solar retinopathy: its significance for the ageing eye and the younger pseudophakic patient.

The sun is the main source of ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared radiation reaching our atmosphere. The short wavelength components of the sun's spectrum have been shown to have deleterious effects on the retinal photoreceptors. These effects are photochemical and mostly not thermal in nature. Except in early life, most of the ultraviolet (300-400 nm) is effectively filtered out by the lens which in later life also filters out considerable proportions of shorter visible wavelengths to 450 nm. The photochemical effects are mediated by the production of free radicals from the interaction of oxygen, photons and receptor molecules. These radicals attack, among others, polyunsaturated fatty acid components of cell membranes which may eventually degenerate. Protective mechanisms within the receptors and the adjacent pigment epithelium may be overwhelmed in the presence of high retinal irradiances over prolonged periods of time--as may occur in aphakic and pseudophakic eyes. The cone system, with a much slower replacement rate of light-sensitive membranes, is more likely to suffer permanent damage than the rod system, with predictable consequences. The above considerations have special relevance in old patients because of their age-compromised retinas, and in the younger patient who may be rendered aphakic or pseudophakic and faces a prolonged period of exposure to excessive UV irradiation as a consequence. Protection for the retina, whether by sunglasses or UV-absorbing intraocular lenses, as appropriate, is recommended.

Aging

Evaluation of nine hundred and sixty-seven consecutive intraocular implants.

We undertook a survey of all intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted by two surgeons from 1976 up to the end of 1983. Of the 967 implants, 164 were excluded because of lack of adequate follow-up. Of the remaining 803 cases there were 104 anterior chamber lenses, 185 iris-supported lenses, and 514 posterior chamber lenses. The overall final visual acuity was 6/12 or better in 740 cases (92.2%). Of the remaining 63 cases, 32 had pre-existing disease or associated conditions not directly related to the operation. By analysing the results within each major group of IOL we found that the posterior chamber IOLs had the best final visual acuity (94.4% 6/12 or better) and fewer postoperative complications. The major problems with iris-supported IOLs were corneal decompensation and cystoid macular oedema.

Adult

Choroidal osteomas.

Two patients with choroidal osteoma, one with bilateral involvement, diagnosed by fluorescein angiography, ultrasonography and CT scanning are presented. The clinical presentation, differential diagnosis and significance are discussed.

Adolescent

Clinical management in the face of the uveal melanoma controversy.

The modalities used to diagnose choroidal melanoma are described. The use of these procedures has reduced the misdiagnosis rate from 20% in the 1960s to less than 5% today. Observation and reinvestigation of small tumours is recommended. Surgery may cause dissemination of tumour emboli, which may be prevented by gentle handling of tissue, use of intravenous mannitol and hypotensive anaesthesia. Measures other than enucleation are available to treat choroidal melanoma, but few tumours meet the criteria for their use.

Choroid Neoplasms

Systemic factors contributory to retinal vein occlusion.

This study was undertaken in 79 patients with retinal vein occlusion to assess the different systemic mechanisms contributing to the occlusion, namely, intrinsic vessel disease and abnormalities of the blood constituents and blood viscosity. In 55 patients older than 50 years of age, important associations were hypertension, abnormal results on glucose tolerance test, hyperlipidemia, chronic lung disease, and elevated serum IgA levels. In the 24 patients younger than 50 years of age, male incidence was high and important associations were head injuries, hyperlipidemia, and the use of estrogen-containing preparations. Hyperviscosity and cryofibrinogenemia were prominent in both groups. The pathogenesis of retinal venous occlusion is complex involving interaction between the vessel wall and blood constituents.

Adult